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{{Burmese name|Saw}}
{{Burmese name|Saw}}

{{Infobox royalty
{{Infobox royalty
| consort = yes
| consort = yes
| name = Saw Mon Hla <br/> {{my|စောမွန်လှ}}
| name = Saw Mon Hla <br/> စောမွန်လှ
| image = Queen Saw Mon Hla.jpg
| image = Queen Saw Mon Hla.jpg
| caption = Statue of Saw Mon Hla
| caption = Statue of Saw Mon Hla
⚫
| reign = {{circa}} 1058–1071
| coronation =
| coronation =
| succession = [[List of Burmese consorts|Queen of the Northern Palace of Pagan]]
| succession = Princess of Maw
⚫
| reign = {{circa}} 1040s–1058
⚫
| predecessor = [[Myauk Pyinthe (Kunhsaw)|Myauk Pyinthe]]
| predecessor =
⚫
| successor = [[Manisanda]]
| suc-type = Successor
| successor =
| succession1 = [[List of Burmese consorts|Queen of the Northern Palace of Pagan]]
⚫
| reg-type =
⚫
| predecessor1 = [[Myauk Pyinthe (Kunhsaw)|Myauk Pyinthe]]
⚫
| successor1 = [[Manisanda]]
| reign1 = {{circa}} 1058–1070
| suc-type1 = Successor
⚫
| reg-type1 =
| regent =
| regent =
| spouse = [[Anawrahta]]
| spouse = [[Anawrahta]]
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}}
}}


'''[[Burmese honorifics|Saw]] Mon Hla''' ({{lang-my|စောမွန်လှ}} {{IPA-my|sɔ́ mʊ̀ɴ l̥a̰|}}) was the chief queen of King [[Anawrahta]] of Pagan. She is known in [[Burmese history]] for her beauty and her eventual exile instigated by other rival queens. Her story is still part of popular Burmese theater, and she is portrayed as a sad romantic figure.
'''[[Burmese royal titles|Saw]] Mon Hla''' ({{langx|my|စောမွန်လှ}} {{IPA-my|sɔ́ mʊ̀ɰ̃ l̥a̰|}}) was a [[List of Burmese consorts|principal queen]] of King [[Anawrahta]] of [[Pagan Kingdom|Pagan]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Moore |first=Elizabeth |date=May 2009 |title=Archaeology of the Shan Plateau: the Bronze to Buddhist transition |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14639940902969044 |journal=Contemporary Buddhism |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=91–110 |doi=10.1080/14639940902969044 |issn=1463-9947}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Stefan Halikowski |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7lrHeQ0zB7sC&dq=Saw+Mon+Hla&pg=PA239 |title=Creolization and Diaspora in the Portuguese Indies: The Social World of Ayutthaya, 1640-1720 |date=2011-09-23 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-19048-1 |language=en}}</ref> She is known in [[Burmese history]] for her beauty and her eventual exile instigated by other rival queens. Her story is still part of popular Burmese theater, and she is portrayed as a sad romantic figure.

⚫
The queen was daughter of the [[saopha]] (chief) of [[Shan States|Maw Shan State]], located between Pagan and [[Dali Kingdom]] (present day [[Yunnan]]). The native stories of [[Hsipaw]] (Thibaw) and [[Hsenwi]] (Theinni) claim Saw Mon Hla as their princess.<ref>{{cite web | last=Takatani | first=Michio | title=On Narrative Formation of Spirit Legends in Burma (Myanmar) | url=http://coe.asafas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/research/sea/social/hayashi/Hayashi_Unnan_10Takatani.htm | publisher=Hiroshima University}}</ref>

In c. 1058, Anawrahta led an expedition to Dali. After his return from the Dali expedition, the king was presented with Saw Mon Hla by her brother (or in some telling, her father Saw Naung, the chief of Mon).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Morgan |first=Diane |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sbjOEAAAQBAJ&dq=Saw+Mon+Hla&pg=PA62 |title=Fire and Blood: Rubies in Myth, Magic, and History |date=2007-11-30 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-0-313-08719-6 |language=en}}</ref> At Pagan, Saw Mon Hla quickly became the king's favorite queen.

==Legend of [[Shwesayan Pagoda]]==
⚫
According to Burmese chronicles, Saw Mon Hla was exiled by rival queens who were envious of her position as Anawrahta's favorite, accusing her of practicing witchcraft.<ref name=Hmn1>{{cite book | title=Hmannan Yazawin | chapter=King Anawrahta | pages=254–256 | volume=1 | year=1829 | location=Yangon | language=Burmese | edition=2003 | publisher=Ministry of Information, Myanmar}}</ref> Therefore, Saw Mon Hla was forced by Anawrahta to leave and return to her homeland, Maw.


On her return to Sae Lant village in Northern Maw Shan State, one of Saw Mon Hla's earrings, which enshrined a relic of the Buddha, fell into a stream. As it did, dozens of golden sparrows appeared, encircling the spot where the earring had dropped. The stream was thereafter named "Na Daung Kya," meaning "the earring fell into." Near the riverbank, in present-day [[Patheingyi Township|Patheingyi]], [[Mandalay]], she built a pagoda to enshrine her earring and the Buddha relic. The pagoda's façade faced east, toward her birthplace in Shan State. When King [[Anawrahta]] learned of this, he sent soldiers with orders: if the pagoda faced east, she was to be killed; if it faced west, toward Pagan, she was to be spared.
⚫
The queen was daughter of the [[saopha]] (chief) of [[Shan States|Maw Shan State]], located between Pagan and [[Nanzhao Kingdom]] (present day [[Yunnan]]). The native stories of [[Hsipaw]] (Thibaw) and [[Hsenwi]] (Theinni) claim Saw Mon Hla as their princess.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Takatani | first=Michio | title=On Narrative Formation of Spirit Legends in Burma (Myanmar) | url=http://coe.asafas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/research/sea/social/hayashi/Hayashi_Unnan_10Takatani.htm | publisher=Hiroshima University}}</ref>


Saw Mon Hla, upon hearing the news, made a solemn wish to save herself and used her emerald shawl to turn the pagoda so that it faced directly between east and west. According to legend, when the soldiers arrived, they saw that the pagoda wasn’t facing Shan State, and thus, she was spared. The pagoda was named [[Shwesayan Pagoda|Shwesayan]], meaning "encircled by golden sparrows". Saw Mon Hla and her brother died at their home near Hsipaw and are believed to have become nats (spirits) who protect the Shwesayan Pagoda to this day. A small memorial palace near the pagoda features a statue of Saw Mon Hla and her brother. King Anawrahta, deeply regretful after banishing his queen and hearing of her death, donated the surrounding land to the pagoda near the end of his reign.
Circa 1058, Anawrahta led an expedition to Nanzhao. After his return from Nanzhao expedition, the king was presented with Saw Mon Hla by the chief of Maw Shan State presented his daughter. At Pagan, Saw Mon Hla quickly became the king's favorite queen.


==Shwesayan pagoda==
==Spiritual life==
[[File:Saw Mon Hla.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Saw Mon Hla statue in the shrine]]
⚫
According to the Burmese chronicles, the beautiful young queen was driven out by her rival queens who were jealous of her status as Anawrahta's favorite. Her rivals accused her as a witch.<ref name=Hmn1>{{cite book | title=Hmannan Yazawin | chapter=King Anawrahta | pages=254–256 | volume=1 | year=1829 | location=Yangon | language=Burmese | edition=2003 | publisher=Ministry of Information, Myanmar}}</ref> A remorseful Anawrahta is said to have donated the surrounding land to the pagoda towards the end of his reign.
Some people believe Sao Mon Hla, who died at her home near [[Hsipaw]], along with her brother, became guardian [[Nat (deity)|spirits]] who protects the pagoda to this day. There is a Nat shrine near the Shwesayan Pagoda, which has a statue of Sao Mon Hla and her brother. Some people believe it is a shrine for the spirits and that if they make offerings, the spirits will bless them. Paying respect to the spirits of Sao Mon Hla and her brother at Shwe Sar Yan Pagoda has drawn more visitors than other pagoda festivals.


==References==
==References==
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{{s-roy}}
{{s-roy}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Myauk Pyinthe (Kunhsaw)|Myauk Pyinthe]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Myauk Pyinthe (Kunhsaw)|Myauk Pyinthe]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Burmese consorts|Queen of the Northern Palace]]|years=c. 1058–c. 1071}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Burmese consorts|Queen of the Northern Palace]]|years=c. 1058–c. 1070}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Manisanda]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Manisanda]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
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{{Queens consort of Pagan}}
{{Queens consort of Pagan}}
[[Category:Queens consort of Pagan]]
[[Category:Queens consort of Pagan]]
[[Category:11th-century Burmese women]]

Latest revision as of 21:02, 5 November 2024

In this Burmese name, Saw is an honorific, not a given name.
Saw Mon Hla
စောမွန်လှ
Statue of Saw Mon Hla
Princess of Maw
Tenurec. 1040s–1058
Queen of the Northern Palace of Pagan
Tenurec. 1058–1070
PredecessorMyauk Pyinthe
SuccessorManisanda
Born1040s
Sae Lant village, Northern Maw Shan State
DiedHsipaw
SpouseAnawrahta
HouseMaw
FatherSaopha of Maw
ReligionTheravada Buddhism

Saw Mon Hla (Burmese: စောမွန်လှ [sɔ́ mʊ̀ɰ̃ l̥a̰]) was a principal queen of King Anawrahta of Pagan.[1][2] She is known in Burmese history for her beauty and her eventual exile instigated by other rival queens. Her story is still part of popular Burmese theater, and she is portrayed as a sad romantic figure.

The queen was daughter of the saopha (chief) of Maw Shan State, located between Pagan and Dali Kingdom (present day Yunnan). The native stories of Hsipaw (Thibaw) and Hsenwi (Theinni) claim Saw Mon Hla as their princess.[3]

In c. 1058, Anawrahta led an expedition to Dali. After his return from the Dali expedition, the king was presented with Saw Mon Hla by her brother (or in some telling, her father Saw Naung, the chief of Mon).[4] At Pagan, Saw Mon Hla quickly became the king's favorite queen.

Legend of Shwesayan Pagoda

[edit]

According to Burmese chronicles, Saw Mon Hla was exiled by rival queens who were envious of her position as Anawrahta's favorite, accusing her of practicing witchcraft.[5] Therefore, Saw Mon Hla was forced by Anawrahta to leave and return to her homeland, Maw.

On her return to Sae Lant village in Northern Maw Shan State, one of Saw Mon Hla's earrings, which enshrined a relic of the Buddha, fell into a stream. As it did, dozens of golden sparrows appeared, encircling the spot where the earring had dropped. The stream was thereafter named "Na Daung Kya," meaning "the earring fell into." Near the riverbank, in present-day Patheingyi, Mandalay, she built a pagoda to enshrine her earring and the Buddha relic. The pagoda's façade faced east, toward her birthplace in Shan State. When King Anawrahta learned of this, he sent soldiers with orders: if the pagoda faced east, she was to be killed; if it faced west, toward Pagan, she was to be spared.

Saw Mon Hla, upon hearing the news, made a solemn wish to save herself and used her emerald shawl to turn the pagoda so that it faced directly between east and west. According to legend, when the soldiers arrived, they saw that the pagoda wasn’t facing Shan State, and thus, she was spared. The pagoda was named Shwesayan, meaning "encircled by golden sparrows". Saw Mon Hla and her brother died at their home near Hsipaw and are believed to have become nats (spirits) who protect the Shwesayan Pagoda to this day. A small memorial palace near the pagoda features a statue of Saw Mon Hla and her brother. King Anawrahta, deeply regretful after banishing his queen and hearing of her death, donated the surrounding land to the pagoda near the end of his reign.

Spiritual life

[edit]
Saw Mon Hla statue in the shrine

Some people believe Sao Mon Hla, who died at her home near Hsipaw, along with her brother, became guardian spirits who protects the pagoda to this day. There is a Nat shrine near the Shwesayan Pagoda, which has a statue of Sao Mon Hla and her brother. Some people believe it is a shrine for the spirits and that if they make offerings, the spirits will bless them. Paying respect to the spirits of Sao Mon Hla and her brother at Shwe Sar Yan Pagoda has drawn more visitors than other pagoda festivals.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Moore, Elizabeth (May 2009). "Archaeology of the Shan Plateau: the Bronze to Buddhist transition". Contemporary Buddhism. 10 (1): 91–110. doi:10.1080/14639940902969044. ISSN 1463-9947.
  2. ^ Smith, Stefan Halikowski (2011-09-23). Creolization and Diaspora in the Portuguese Indies: The Social World of Ayutthaya, 1640-1720. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-19048-1.
  3. ^ Takatani, Michio. "On Narrative Formation of Spirit Legends in Burma (Myanmar)". Hiroshima University.
  4. ^ Morgan, Diane (2007-11-30). Fire and Blood: Rubies in Myth, Magic, and History. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. ISBN 978-0-313-08719-6.
  5. ^ "King Anawrahta". Hmannan Yazawin (in Burmese). Vol. 1 (2003 ed.). Yangon: Ministry of Information, Myanmar. 1829. pp. 254–256.
Saw Mon Hla
Royal titles
Preceded by Queen of the Northern Palace
c. 1058–c. 1070 		Succeeded by


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